Justice News

Charlotte Man Sentenced To 9 Years In Prison For Firearms Offense

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Chief U.S. District Judge Frank D. Whitney sentenced Stephon Deangleo Caldwell, 28, of Charlotte, to 108 months in prison for a firearms offense, announced Jill Westmoreland Rose, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Caldwell was also ordered to serve 2 years under court supervision following his prison sentence.

U.S. Attorney Rose is joined in making today’s announcement by John A. Strong, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division and Chief Kerr Putney of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD).

According to filed court documents and today’s sentencing hearing, on or about December 1, 2014, CMPD officers were attempting to serve Caldwell multiple state warrants at his residence in Charlotte. Court records show that Caldwell began shooting at the officers with his firearm, a Sig Sauer Model P232 pistol. Officers returned fire striking Caldwell who then attempted to flee on foot, but was apprehended shortly thereafter. According to court records, Caldwell is a member of the United Blood Nation gang and has a prior felony conviction which prohibits him from possessing or carrying a firearm. Caldwell pleaded guilty in April 2015, to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

At the sentencing hearing, prosecutors urged Judge Whitney to impose a sentence that promotes respect for the law, stating that we must send a message that violence against our law enforcement officers will not be tolerated.

Caldwell has been in federal custody since December 2014. Upon designation of a federal facility, he will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons. All federal sentences are served without the possibility of parole.

The investigation was handled by the FBI and CMPD. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Elizabeth Greene and William Bozin of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte.